--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [W]hat with the hours dedicated to the…" description: "\"“[W]hat with the hours dedicated to the law and those given to dining out or entertaining friends at home, with an occasional evening at the Opera or t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a94/edith-wharton-512_business_w-hat-with-the-hours-dedicated-to-the-la_1874158.png" --- # \[W\]hat with the hours dedicated to the law and those given… ![“[W]hat with the hours dedicated to the law and those given to dining out or entertaining friends at home, with an occasional evening at the Opera or the play, the life he was living had still seemed a fairly real and inevitable sort of business. But Newport represented the escape from duty...” quote by Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a94/edith-wharton-512_business_w-hat-with-the-hours-dedicated-to-the-la_1874158.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a94/edith-wharton-512_business_w-hat-with-the-hours-dedicated-to-the-la_1874158.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a94/edith-wharton-512_business_w-hat-with-the-hours-dedicated-to-the-la_1874158.png) > ““\[W\]hat with the hours dedicated to the law and those given to dining out or entertaining friends at home, with an occasional evening at the Opera or the play, the life he was living had still seemed a fairly real and inevitable sort of business. But Newport represented the escape from duty...”” [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He feels trapped by societal expectations, yet seeks escape through a friend’s invitation, highlighting the tension between duty and desire. **In simple terms:** He wants freedom from obligations. Key Takeaway Seek balance between responsibility and personal joy. Themes societal pressure escape friendship Mood reflective nostalgic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - social events - personal relationships - creative pursuits Key Concepts existential conflict social norms personal freedom Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities are you neglecting for pleasure? - Can escape be sustainable? A Different Perspective Escaping duties may lead to unintended consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Business Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-newport-2605519/) [Escape Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/escape-duty-360108/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newport/) [Newport Represented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newport-represented-2605518/) [Occasional Evening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occasional-evening-2605520/) ## Related quotes > [When she was rested. she'd find a way to escape. It was the duty of the captive, wasn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/when-she-was-rested-she-d-find-a-way-to-escape-it-was-the-duty-of-the/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) > [Newport Center has become a Mediterranean town. 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